adj.
Pronunciation: ' ä-m ə -n ə s
Function: adjective
Date: 1580
: being or exhibiting an omen : PORTENTOUS especially : foreboding or foreshadowing evil : INAUSPICIOUS
– om · i · nous · ly adverb
– om · i · nous · ness noun
synonyms OMINOUS , PORTENTOUS , FATEFUL mean having a menacing or threatening aspect. OMINOUS implies having a menacing, alarming character foreshadowing evil or disaster < ominous rumblings from the volcano>. PORTENTOUS suggests being frighteningly big or impressive but now seldom definitely connotes forewarning of calamity <an eerie and portentous stillness>. FATEFUL suggests being of momentous or decisive importance <the fateful conference that led to war>.